1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
BSPC Standing Committee, Hamburg,
Katharina Fegebank, 2nd Mayor and Minister of Science, Re-
search and Equalities, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

2. What is the Baltic Science Network?
BSN is the leading transnational forum for higher education, science, and research cooperation of the Baltic Sea Region.
BSN is a political network gathering relevant transnational, national, and regional policy actors from the BSR countries.
The Network serves as a springboard for targeted multi- lateral activities in the frame of research and innovation excellence, mobility of scientists and widening participation.

3. A Challenge-Based Approach
The orientation towards Grand or Societal Challenges requires rethinking of science, technology, and innovation policies in order to better serve the needs of European populations.

4. Why Baltic Science Network?
international
European/EU
transnational/
macroregional
national
regional
local
National or regional answers are not sufficient anymore for the large societal challenges
A closer transnational cooperation and joint presentation of interests in higher education, science and research within the Baltic Sea Region is needed
Within the Baltic Sea Region a macroregional dimension is missing in the science policy field

5. Main Objectives
To create better framework condition for our universities and research institutions for more intensify transnational collaboration.
BSN serves as a test bed for innovative solutions supporting the European Research Area implementation
Develop and implement science policies and strategies in the Baltic Sea Region in a macroregional dimension
Integrate in a coordinated manner macroregional interests into science policy on EU, national, regional and local level

6. Who is already involved?
Lithuania
Ministry of Education and Science
Research and Higher Education Monitoring and Analysis Centre (MOSTA)
Poland
University of Gdansk  
Ministry of Education and Science
Denmark
Ministry of Higer Education and Research,
Danish Agency for Science and Innovation (DASTI)
Latvia
Ministry of Education and Science
Sweden
Swedish Research Council
Ministry of Education and Research
Baltic Sea Region
Council of the Baltic Sea States
EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
Baltic Sea Region University Network
Baltic University Programme
BONUS
STRING
NordForsk
Russia
St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON)
Germany
Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research and Equalities
Senate Chancellery of Hamburg
Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Science and Equality of the Land of Schleswig-Holstein
Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the Land of Mecklenburg Hither Pomerania
Finland
University of Turku
Åbo University
Ministry of Education and Culture
Estonia
Ministry of Education and Research
Norway
Ministry of Education and Research

7. Added Value Common platform for closer policy cooperation
Synergetic approach which incorporates and builds on:
already existing structures in the Baltic Sea Region
on-going initiatives related to higher education, science, and research policy

8. Embracing Complementarity
BSN is interwoven in the following regional structures:
One of the major projects of the Council of the Baltic Sea States´ Science, Research & Innovation Agenda
Flagship of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region under the PA Education, Research and Employability
Establishment of the network is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme (3 mill. € ; )

9. 9
CBSS Science Ministerial + Political Kick- Off BSN, 16 June 2016 in Kraków, Poland
16 June 2016 in Kraków, Poland

10. Actions of BSN Widening Participation BSR-wide Mobility
Exchange & Learning
of Best Practices
Joint Lobbying on
EU & International Level
Research & Innovation Excellence

11. Research & Innovation Excellence11
Research & Innovation Excellence
Identification of current challenges for science and research cooperation:
National and transnational workshops are scheduled
Joint transnational strategies for scientific excellence:
Preparation of a comparative status quo-study
Joint programming
Transnational utilisation of research & innovation infrastructure

12. Mobility of Scientists Within the BSR12
Mobility of Scientists Within the BSR
Identification of challenges hampering more active mobility among scientists within the BSR
1st BSN-study on researcher mobility in the BSR issued
Panel on researcher mobility during the Fehmarnbelt Days
National and transnational workshops are scheduled
Structured mobility tools
Mobility funding instruments

13. Widening Participation13
Widening Participation
Identification of challenges for widening participation
Transnational workshop on the way
Qualitative and quantitative analysis on the way
Estonian EU-presidency as a chance!
Innovative tools and concepts for widening participation

14. Joint Interest Articulation14
Joint Interest Articulation
Ensuring visibility of joint efforts
Different Brussels events are scheduled
Joint lobbying on international and EU levels
9th Framework Programme : exchange of ideas of future perspectives
Baltic Sea Region 2030: Role of science and research
Coordinated drafting of national and regional action plans

15. Milestones 16 June 2016 8-9 November 20 – 22 September 10 November
BSN Political Kick-Off
back-to-back
with the CBSS Science Ministerial
Kraków, Poland
Policy workshop
EUSBSR Annual Forum
Stockholm, Sweden
Summer 2016
Fall & Winter 2016
20 – 22 September
10 November
Fehmarnbelt Days
Hamburg, Germany
BSN Steering Committee meeting
Stockholm, Sweden

16. ”Ideas” for support via BSPC
Increased investment in science, higher education and research to ensure the future of the BSR
Call to intensify scientific collaboration in the Baltic Sea Region , qualitatively as well as quantitatively
Support of BSN as an important tool to enhance a macro- regional dimension in science and research policy, from which our higher education and research institutions should benefit.
Support for BONUS II

17. BSN – The Way Forward Interreg project is just the starting point
BSN serves as a test bed for innovative solutions supporting the European Research Area implementation
BSN is designed as a sustainable Network in order to contribute in the long-term to the BSR-wide higher education, science and research objectives in specifically targeted areas

18. Further Enquiries Pleas contact our project team:
Klaus von Lepel, Julia Gottwald, Katariina Röbbelen-Voigt
Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Ministry of Science, Research and Equalities
Photo credit: Audiovisual Services of the European Commission, International Permanent Secretariat of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland, Image Bank Sweden,

19. Thank you very much for your attention!